"Being A Celebrity Is More Stressful Than Being An Actor"- Nollywood Actor, Ani Iyoho Reveals

Nollywood actor, Ani Iyoho ( Nominated As Best Actor in a Supporting Role, AMAA 2014)

  

 "The greatest misconception about me is that I am the characters I play. Villainous, proud, unapproachable, snobbish. But on getting to know me just little bit and immediately those misconceptions fade away"- Ani Iyoho

Nollywood actor Ani Iyoho in an exclusive interview with OCB talks about his journey into nollywood, his proudest achievement, growing up, relationship status and greatest misconception about him...grab a bottle of champaign and let's enjoy Enjoy!   

 

OCB BBpin: 7E314696 

 OCB: Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.

Ani Iyoho:  My AMAA nomination for my role in the thriller Potomanto 2014 where I was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role would be my proudest achievement career wise presently. I played a character called Shina. Shina is a dirty ex Nigerian police officer who is a scorned right hand man and muscle to a business mogul Bankole, played by Mr. Olu Jacobs. Shina is aggressive,  and ambitious. He is the face for the underground deal his boss Bankole runs which is illegal acquisition and distribution of body parts.
The movie was shot in Ghana by the director Shirley Frimpong-Manso, a product of Sparrow Production.  It had nine nominations at the just concluded 2014 AMA Awards. The movie is out on DVD and should be available in stores very soon.

  OCB:  Does being an actor prevent you from being or doing something you really like?

Ani Iyoho: Acting hasn't prevented me from being or doing anything I really like doing. As a matter of fact it has made me improve on myself. Being an actor puts us in the public glare, automatically making us role models of our society. So instead of preventing us it actually is an opportunity for us to better ourself, develop our characters and project the importance and benefits to remain good citizens in our society.

OCB: What is your favourite childhood memory?

Ani Iyoho: Honestly my whole childhood is my favourite childhood memory. I can't pick out one thing that stands out. My parents were awesome parents. They brought up my siblings and I well rounded socially, spiritually and as an individual. I recall while in the University during a rainy day watching some children play football in the field. I started missing my childhood and when I didn't have a care in the world.

OCB: Who were your favourite celebrities when you were younger?

Ani Iyoho: My favourite celebrities where mostly foriegn actors as Nollywood hadn't kicked off then. Al Pacino and John Travolta were my favourites and when Nollywood started Pete Edochie, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) and Sam Dede became part of my favourite actors list.

OCB:  When, how and why did you join Nollywood?

Ani Iyoho: I joined Nollywood in 2004 when I registered with AGN. I got some information on how to go about it and immediately jumped right into it. My family had always been supportive of my artistic skills so this was motivational. I guess the need to find a way to provide for myself and support my family in a society were most graduates are unemployed inspired me to use my talent.

OCB:  What was the pay like then?
Ani Iyoho: It was not and still is not very good. Apparently until you are an A list actor the pay never really makes sense. In fact even our A list actors aren't really getting what they deserve compared to their foreign counterparts. But this isn't anyones fault as it's a growing industry with limited access to funding and proper distribution, with a lot of uncontrollable piracy surrounding it, in a third world country. Who is to blame?

OCB: And now....

Ani Iyoho: But compared to then the remuneration has gotten better and I speak for myself. But the best is yet to come.

OCB: How many movies have you featured in? Mention some....

Ani Iyoho: About 10 or more movies and 10 Tele novellas
The recent movies are Potomanto, Four Crooks and a Rookie,  Out of Hand,  Chase, Sins of the past and JUDE. Some are on DVD while the rest are online and television.
While the tele novellas include Tinsel, Adams Apple season 2, Lekki Wives 1 and 2, Tenant, Echoes, Middlemen season 2 and Cruel Intention. The last two are yet to hit the screens while the rest can be found on AfMagEnt 151 and AfMag 154 on DSTV with exemption of Echoes which is on AIT and Galaxy TV. Lekki wives is also on DVDs.
I also have done some Voice Over acting.

OCB: Which actress would you wanna kiss in a movie?

Ani Iyoho: Lol. I haven't ever thought about that one. It's not like we go around planning for the next big kiss. Definitely not regarded as an achievement. Lol. The kiss we share as actors is not real. I can mention actresses I'd love to act alongside if that's the question and if I get to kiss them because the script says so and it is relevant to the story, then so be it. Genevieve Nnaji and Mercy Johnson are actresses I admire and would like to work alongside them someday.

OCB: What makes a very good actor?

Ani Iyoho: The ability to interpret, deliver a character, portray the right emotions,  maintain continuity, and deliver lines with confidence are criteria to good acting. A good actor is a constant learner,  one who listens, is quick to adapt, and is able to carry the audience through the emotional ups and downs of the story.
A good character offset helps a lot to building and maintaining of strong and healthy relationships and network, and gaining recommendations.

OCB: In terms of originality, would you say Ghanian movies are better than Nigerian movies?

Ani Iyoho:  Is there really a difference? We have our foreign stories kind of movies and traditional types, well so do our Ghanaian brothers. We use English language and our dialects and so do they. We show our culture so do they. So who's better in terms of originality? We just have more people in the game being a bigger country with a larger population.

OCB: Ghollywood actors can go to any length (even naked) to interpret their roles just to make sure viewers get the real message. Would you  say they have no culture?

Ani Iyoho: I won't say they don't have culture.  In fact I dare say we Africans are a bit hypocritical and I am generalising when I say Africans. We condemn and ban our indigenous movies and musical videos that do this things yet we accept and embrace the foreign ones that do worse. It is an actors job to deliver on the character and bring a story to life and that means doing whatever is necessary or relevant to create believability. If a movie wants to address an issue and the actors shy away from acting the part because of what the society will think of them then how do we go about educating and or enlightening on the subject? We are not pastors or teachers who can preach or teach about it,  nor are we awareness groups that will march, carrying placards or giving out articles on the subject. We are actors. We act. Acting is our tool to achieving awareness and entertainment.

OCB: What has culture got to do with role interpretation?

Ani Iyoho: Culture is in everything we do. Role interpretation not excluded. Because every character and every story has a certain cultural background. So the viewers have to understand or be open to the culture being portrayed. This doesn't necessarily mean imbibing the culture if it doesn't agree with your believe system.

OCB: I read in an interview that you can go nude in movies, how true is that?

Ani Iyoho: Like I had just explained apart from entertaining we also enlighten and educate through acting. I am not one to shy away. So as long as anything is relevant to the story or the awareness trying to be projected for a good course I will do it.

OCB: Even if the pay is nothing to write home about?

Ani Iyoho: It is a job for me. This is my career. So of course the pay is very important and not just for "nude" roles but any role at all. Wouldn't you want to get paid for the work you did? And even more for the extra work you put in? The amount is dependent on individuals value system of his or herself or skill.

OCB: Any Awards so far?

Ani Iyoho: No I don't have any awards yet.  Just a nomination so far. But ask me this in the next 5 years and it will be a whole different story.

OCB: Let's get personal.....are you in a relationship?

Ani Iyoho: Yes, I am in a relationship. I don't talk about it much because I have put most of myself out there and I believe I still have a constitutional right as a citizen of Nigeria to some amount of privacy.

OCB: Ouch! Bad market for the ladies...lol, getting married soon?

Ani Iyoho: When the time is right there will be a marriage. I am a family oriented type of guy therefore I'd love to have my own family someday.

OCB: Do you believe in love at first sight?

Ani Iyoho: No I don't believe in love at first sight.  I believe love grows in any relationship. With a spouse "love first sight" actually starts as lust but can grow into love over time. Love is after the excitement of lust dies, courtship ends, and conversation reduces, yet the couple still enjoy each others company and are willing to be together. At this point the couple have made a decision to spend their lifetime with no one else but themselves. That's love in my books. 

OCB: Who is Ani Iyoho?

Ani Iyoho: Ani Iyoho is just a regular guy, actor and voice over artist from Akwa Ibom state. Born to the retired Wing Commander and presently a Barrister at law Lawrence Uwem Iyoho and Obiageli Gratitude Iyoho. I have 7 siblings which include step siblings as well. 6th in the family but 4th born to both my parents. Studied Zoology in the University of Calabar then went on to get my Advanced Diploma in Software Engineering at Aptech, Lagos.
I am an optimistic person with a mix of choleric and sanguine temperaments, approachable, friendly, cordial, humble and have a good sense of humour. I am a very godly individual with strong spiritual beliefs. My faith gives me an air of confidence, pride and certainty when confronted with challenges. I love a good laugh. I am motivated and spend a lot of time and money going through motivational and inspirational material.

OCB: What is the biggest misconception about you?

Ani Iyoho: The greatest misconception about me is that I am the characters I play. Villainous, proud, unapproachable,  snobbish. But on getting to know me just little bit and immediately those misconceptions fade away. 

OCB: Describe your typical day?

Ani Iyoho: A typical day for me is always full of work. Either I am on set or location shooting or at an audition/casting venue, or you would find me working on my laptop or phone. This type of work can range from updating social networks, marketing myself, maintaining my online network, and trying to stay in touch with fans or friends etc.
I'm also very handy and domestic so you will also catch me repairing stuff at home, dismantling gadgets to see how they work.
When not on set or audition/casting ground you most times would find me at home.
For leisure you would find me kicking back by the waters, beach, pool, etc I like jazz bars and serene outings.  

OCB: If I came to your home and looked inside your refrigerator, what would I find?

Ani Iyoho: Fruits, vegetables, juices, water and cooked food are what you would find in my fridge.

OCB: If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?

Ani Iyoho:  A tiger. I love the stripes on its coat,  its prowess, the fact that they stand and hunt alone  and that they love playing in water. They also only hunt for food and not just game. I think we have a lot in common.

OCB: Which famous actors do you admire and why?

Ani Iyoho: Quite a number actually. I like Leonardo Dicaprio, Johnny Depp,  Majid Michael and Forrest Whitaker for their versatility. Also Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta,  Samuel L. Jackson,  Denzel Washington, Sam Dede, Meryl Streep, Nicholas Cage, Joke Silva and many others. I particularly admire Olu Jacobs Geneviève Nnaji and Omotola Ekeinde for their achievements. But frankly the list is very long.

OCB: Which is tougher, acting or being a celebrity?

Ani Iyoho:  Being a celebrity is definitely more stressful than being an actor. The expectations are just high. You give all yourself to it all day, all year round. Unlike acting which just until the shoot is done. Acting comes easier for me as well.  Being a celebrity takes hard work. I need to work with a manager, PR Person, Stylist, Brand developer. It's just crazy.

OCB: What inspires your style of dressing?

Ani Iyoho: I like the smart, easy going, non formal corporate look. It shows the seriousness and yet the need to take it easy and have fun as well.
 

OCB: When was the last time you cried?

Ani Iyoho:  That would be when I lost someone dear to me.

OCB: What projects are you currently working on?

Ani Iyoho: I'm currently working on Cruel Intention, and Middlemen.  Also shoots for other Tele novellas that I already am on should recommence soon.
 

OCB: (Prank) Why isn't the number 11 pronounced as onety one?

Ani Iyoho:  For the same reason 22 isn't twoty two or 10 onety zero. Lol

OCB: Advice for wannabes....

Ani Iyoho: Wannabees should just wannabe themselves. Whatever they are passionate about that is where they should be irrespective of the trials and tribulations they might face while on the path. One thing is for sure they will fare better through the tough times if they are passionate about something than if they weren't passionate and only did it for survival. I wish them the best.

OCB: What can you say about Nigerian bloggers?

Ani Iyoho:  Nigerian bloggers are doing a great job with keeping the masses informed. Majority don't have access to papers or television so online is the way they stay informed.  I for one prefer blog interviews because unlike papers limited to pages or television and radio limited to time. Blogs have enough space to post whatever information they get therefore they post the right information, unedited, undiluted, straight from the horses mouth or in this case fingers.

OCB: It's been awesome chatting with you Ani, thanks for time.

Ani Iyoho:  Thanks OCB. I need to say you do a grand job with information distribution. Keep it up.  Well done.